Shingles Support Group

I STARTED GETTING SEVERE PAIN GOING THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY UPPER BACK AND COMING OUT THROUGH THE FRONT. FOR ONE WEEK I HAD HORRIFIC PAIN UNDER MY RIGHT BREAST . AFTER A WEEK, I BROKE OUT WITH BLISTERS UNDER THE BREAST AND ON MY BACK. I DO NOT HAVE MANY AND THEY DONT BOTHER ME AT ALL. HOWEVER, I DID HAVE THE SKIN SENSITIVITY AND STILL SOME PAIN. IT IS NOW THE 4TH WEEK AND THE BLISTERS ARE GOING AWAY. I DID NOT FEEL ANY PAIN THIS MORNING SO I WAS RUBBING THE AREA WHERE I HAD THE PAIN TO SEE IF IT WAS IN FACT GONE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE PAIN STARTED UP AGAIN . IT IS AWFUL . JUST LIKE IT WAS AT THE START. I COULD NOT TAKE THE ANTI VIRAL DRUG DUE TO ALERGIES . I HAVE ONLY BEEN TAKING TYLENOL. I TAKE A BLOOD PRESSURE PILL BUT OTHER THAN THAT I AM IN GOOD HEALTH AND VERY ACTIVE. I AM 64 YEARS OLD. MY QUESTIONS ARE, HOW LONG DOES IT NORMALLY TAKE FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO HEAL? CAN I USE THE ZOSTRIX CREAM NOW BEFORE THE BLISTERS ARE TOTALLY GONE? WOULD RUBBING THE SKIN CAUSE THE NERVE ENDINGS TO RILE UP AGAIN? DOES EVERYONE WHO CANNOT TAKE THE VIRAL MEDS WIND UP WITH PHN? THANK YOU
Posted on 07/20/09, 11:07 pm